The role of overseas immigrants in population dynamics: UN

Overseas immigrants play a crucial role in the growth of population in several parts of the world according to the United Nations report. They even reverse the decline of population is some nations or areas as per the UN report.

Positive net immigration was responsible for 42% of the population growth in North America and 31% in Oceania. This was during the period 2000 to 2015. The size of the population in Europe would have declined during this period if not for net positive immigration.

The continued current trends of immigration will not be adequate for compensating the total excess of deaths over births from 2020 to 2025 in Europe. However, the decline in the population of Europe would be more pronounced and start earlier by 2015-2020. This is under the scenario of nil net immigration.

Similarly, the population in North America will begin to decline absolutely in 2040under the scenario of nil net immigration. In Oceania, the decline in the overall change in population will be twice as large by 2050 under the scenario of nil net immigration. This is in comparison with a scenario of the medium variant.

Net international immigration means the difference between numbers of overseas immigrants arriving and those departing from a nation. This is irrespective of the nation of birth or citizenship. The nation gains from positive net immigration if more people immigrate to it than emigrate from it.

Overseas immigrants consist of a large % of working age people in comparison with the overall population. Positive net immigration can thus help in reducing the ratio of old-age dependency. This ratio would be higher in some parts of the world if not for overseas immigrants.